Page 34 of With You

“I’m good,” I spoke into my radio, wincing as the movement sent pain tearing through me.

“I got her. We’re all clear,” Gage added. “Your boyfriend’s worried about you,” he taunted with a smile. It was unnerving, he rarely smiled and I always thought it was like staring into the mouth of a lion. Which must have been why it took so long for his words to register. That or blood loss.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” It was a weak protest and we both knew it but give me a break, I’d just been shot.

He laughed, the sound more like a brittle cough. Maybe I’d lost more blood than I thought because I couldn’t think of a single moment where I’d heard Gage laugh either.

“Shut up,” I punched his arm weakly and dropped my head against the splintered wood of the shed, listening to the chatter on the coms.

I must have passed out because in the next moment I was shaken awake as straps wrapped over my body and secured me to a stretcher. A hand moved at my hip and I gripped the wrist tightly when I felt my gun shift.

I fixed my gaze on the paramedic and he winced when I tightened my hold. “You can’t take these with you to the hospital, ma’am,” he squeaked out.

Fair enough. “Gage, you mind?” My partner shoved the young guy out of the way and deftly removed my weapons, tucking them into his own belt. He’d get them back to the office for me, keeping them safe until I could clean and lock them away later.

After he was done, he stepped back and the stretcher started to move, each bounce on the uneven ground sending pain through my arm and chest. I gritted my teeth and started to count in my head to distract myself. My entire body jolted as the front wheels slammed into the back of the ambulance and folded inward so that they could slide me in.

“Sam!” I heard his voice but lifting my head to search for him seemed like a monumental task. When Roe’s face appeared leaning over me, I let out a sigh of relief. He was safe, completely unharmed and it was comforting knowing that I wasn’t alone.

“You abandoning your post, Ross?” I joked to let him know I was all right.

“Nah, I’m right where I’m supposed to be.”

I smiled as his cool fingers brushed the sweaty hair off my forehead. Blackness encroached my vision and my eyes drifted shut, knowing that he’d be there when they opened again.

19

ROE

My leg bounced continuously as I stared at the closed doors, silently willing someone to come out and talk to me.

Sam had been in surgery for hours and not one person had given me an update since they’d taken her away from me, stating that I couldn’t go any farther. I jumped to my feet and started pacing in the small waiting room.

I was alone, the others had drifted in and out, checking to see if there were any updates before they went and saw Lily. I should go and see her, too, make sure she’s doing okay but I couldn’t force myself to leave. This was as close as they’d let me be to Sam and I’d be damned if I wasn’t here when she needed me.

When I reached the end of the room, I turned to resume my pacing and was startled to see Gage in one of the world’s tiniest and most uncomfortable chairs. I paused, taking him in and assessing what kind of mood he was in. He was still dressed in his black cargo pants and long-sleeved dark Henley that he’d worn for the mission, though his shirt was untucked due to the lack of a belt. A belt that he’d used to slow the bleeding in Sam’s arm. Jesus, fuck.

“Thank you,” I said in a barely audible whisper. The wave of emotion I felt surprised me, he’d been there when she was in danger, maybe even saved her life and that was a debt I don’t know if I’d ever be able to repay.

“Didn’t do it for you, I did it for her. Because she’s my partner, my teammate and I would have done it for you and the others, too. Don’t need a thank you for doing my job.” He leaned back casually in the chair, propping one booted foot on top of the opposite knee.

My legs unfroze themselves and I walked to the chair next to him and collapsed into it, suddenly exhausted from the last twenty-four hours. I propped my elbows on my knees and dropped my head in my hands. “I could have lost her.”

“But you didn’t. And you need to cut that shit out because you know she won’t want to hear it.”

My laugh was humorless and I dropped my hands, looking at him out of the corner of my eye. “Thanks for the sympathy, man, or is it empathy? I never could remember the difference.”

A casual grunt was all I received, not that I’d expected him to answer. We sat in silence for a while, my gaze never straying from the unmoving doors. “You’re right, I don’t need to drop all my emotional baggage on Sam the second she wakes up. I just don’t know how to handle this, her being in danger. This won’t be the last time and I can’t figure out how to be okay with that.”

“I don’t think I’m the best person to answer that question. It’s not like you can stare at her from the shadows like a stalker, Sam would clock you in less than a minute.”

I winced, turning toward him, “I’m sorry, that was a shitty thing for me to say.”

He shrugged his massive shoulders, “You weren’t wrong.”

“Still, I’m sorry. I’m sure you have your reasons but if you’re looking for my opinion…”

“I’m not,” he interrupted.

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